What’s Happening at a Glance
Membership News and Upcoming Events- NEW! Online Shir Hadash Business Directory
- Shir Hadash Gala, February 22
- Support the Gala with Silent Auction Donations
- Book Club, February 25
- MOSH Family Hockey Event at Chicago Wolves, March 2
- NEW Save the Date: Open Meeting on Kosher/Kashrut Policy, March 16
- Permanent Restaurant Fundraisers: The Continental and Butterfield’s
- Shabbat Evening Service, February 7
- NEW! Spread the Word: Join our Marketing Team
- Blood Drive Recap
- Milken Archive of Jewish Music: The American Experience
- Lahaka Adult Choir
- Visit the Education Director’s Blog
- Madrichim
- BBYO
- Teen Ski Trip, February 21-22
- NEW! JRF National Kallah, March 21-23
- “The Little Light of Mine”
- The Book of Esther Interfaith Class
- Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Eitan
- Sunday Morning Adult Ed Classes
- Chicago A Capella Presents “Melodic Migrations”, February 15
- Dr. Amy-Jill Levine at OLB, April 3 & 4
Membership and Upcoming Events
NEW! Online Shir Hadash Business DirectoryWe are adding a business directory to our website as a benefit to our members. This information will be listed on our website in the public area of the site.
As a member, the basic listing is free to you. A basic listing includes your name, your business name, a link to your website or email and your business phone number sorted by business category. We are also offering expanded listings, which will link to both your email and website, include your street address, and include a 25-word description of your business. There is an annual charge of $25 for this listing. For the first year, you can have from NOW until July 1, 2015 for a single charge. (That is an extra 5 months!)
Going forward, we hope to be able to allow you to offer specials or promotions to members, possibly to post small photos, etc. We are open to suggestion as to how you would like to see this work.
Click here to visit the website for more details and a submission form. Questions? Ideas? Contact Lise Schleicher, info@shir-hadash.org.
“Living the Chai Life” Shir Hadash Gala and Silent Auction, February 22
Get ready for our 2014 Fundraising Gala “Living the Chai Life!” on Saturday, February 22 at the Arboretum Club in Buffalo Grove. Join us as we celebrate 18 years as a community! The evening will feature hors d'oeuvres, desserts, a silent auction, raffles, and live music by The Not For Profit Band! Tickets are $54/person now, $64/person after February 16. Visit our website for details and tickets!
Silent Auction Donations or Sponsorships
Donations are still being accepted for our Gala’s silent auction. Special items, event tickets, professional services, gift cards – there are lots of ways to contribute! Invite your favorite stores or businesses to participate with donations. Sponsorship opportunities (which include a number of tickets) are also available. Contributions are tax deductible and all proceeds benefit Shir Hadash. Every bit helps! Contract Glenn Graff at fundraising@shir-hadash.org for more information.
Book Club, February 25
Our next selection will be Second Person Singular by Sayed Kashua. The book is a story of identity, following two Israeli Arabs who are trying to define themselves in modern day Jerusalem. We will discuss this novel at our next meeting, to be held at the home of Melanie Andes on Tuesday, February 25 at 7:30. For more information, please contact Meryl Abensohn at abenkras@aol.com.
Family Hockey Event With MOSH, March 2
Join MOSH (Men of Shir Hadash) for a family outing of hockey as the Chicago Wolves take on the Iowa Wild in a Midwest Division showdown. Everyone is welcome!
What is M.O.S.H.? Very simple... men of Shir Hadash getting together socially, doing fun stuff. Why? Because we all need more fun in our lives and getting to know other male Shir Hadashniks is a good thing.
Pass this on! If you aren't a man but you know men, or you are a man of Shir Hadash and you want to make sure a male friend at Shir Hadash knows about M.O.S.H. please invite them to join us for this event!
Save the Date: Meeting on Kosher/Kashrut Policy, March 16
Just like any other Jewish family establishing a home, Shir Hadash needs to set some ground rules for Kosher/Kashrut dining in our building. Interested in being part of the discussion? Come to an open meeting on Sunday, March 16 at 10:00am to share your ideas and help develop a policy. More details coming soon.
Hungry Before or After Religious School (or Anytime)?
The Continental Restaurant in Buffalo Grove or Butterfields Restaurant in Northbrook permanently will donate 5% of your total bill to Shir Hadash! No flyer needed – just mention Shir Hadash when you are paying or fill out the Shir Hadash book behind the desk. A great way to start or end Religious school!
Creative Worship and Ritual
Shabbat Evening Service: February 7, 7:30Shabbat TetzavehCome join a special Shabbat service led by our 4th, 5th, and 6th grade classes. We will read from the Torah about the portable shrine and the Eternal Light that our ancestors fashioned in the desert on their way to the Promised Land. We will bless our children as they draw closer to their bar and bat mitzvah services. There’s a lot to celebrate. Bring dessert to share at the potluck oneg refreshments on the theme of ‘treats you would like to have if you were wandering in the desert for 40 years.’
Volunteer Opportunities
Spread the Word: Join Our Marketing Team!Help us get out the word about all the great events happening at Shir Hadash! We are looking for volunteers to help us with marketing in the following ways:
- Coffee Shop Flyer Brigade: Posting event flyers in local coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and places where kids’ activities are held.
- Public Relations Coordinator: Submit event announcement to online calendar listing and submit press releases to local media by email or online posting
- Patch Blogger: Post our weekly newsletter to four local Patch.com sites.
- Flyer Designer: Work with the Marketing Committee, event planners, and Rabbi Eitan to create flyers for upcoming events (some desktop publishing or design experience preferred).
All these activities are low time commitment for you, high impact for our congregation! If you’re interested, please contact Rachel Siegel, Marketing Committee Chair, (847) 724-5720, rschicksiegel@comcast.net.
Blood Drive Recap: Way to Go, Shir Hadash!
Our blood drive on Sunday, February 2 was the most successful in our history. We had over 30 pints of blood donated which will help save over 90 lives. The people at LifeSource were so happy and grateful for our wonderful turnout and they commented that our donors were the most polite and fun people they have had in a long time. We showed them the real Shir Hadash spirit! A special thanks to Mark Lenhart for coordinating the blood drive, and to Don Johnson and his staff for making sure all the tables were removed from the kitchen and were put back by the end of the day. (Don also donated some of his blood as well.)
It was great to see a number of Shir Hadash youth and Madrichim getting involved. We had three who successfully donated; two more who tried to donate were deferred because they didn't have a photo ID. Remember, even though you might be in the LifeSource system, you still need a photo ID to donate blood. Congratulations to all who participated in this vital, life-saving project!
Music Notes – News and Ideas from our Music Director
Milken Archive of Jewish Music: The American ExperienceInterested in the full range of American Jewish music? The Milken Archive of Jewish Music is the site for you to visit. Focusing on the American contribution to the genre, their efforts now span 20 volumes (that's over 50 CDs!) At the site you can listen to and download music, watch videos, read articles, view historic documents and photographs, and so much more. The collection predominantly features music in the more "classical" style but also includes Yiddish, Cantorial, Folk, Jazz, Klezmer, etc. Visit http://www.milkenarchive.org/.
Lahaka (Adult Choir)
Our adult choir, Lahaka is meeting regularly on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month at 7:30pm. If you like to sing and be part of a warm, friendly, fun-loving group, come join us. For more information contact Adrian Durlester at music.director@shir-hadash.org.
Education
Visit the Education Director’s BlogEducation Director Emily Ascher’s blog has loads of pictures and news about everything happening at Religious School. Click here to see it all.Teen News
MadrichimMeeting this Sunday, February 9 at 8:45 at Sunday School. Agenda: Purim!!
BBYO
Mark your calendars for BBYO Cosmic Bowling Night March 1 from 7:00-9:00 Cosmic Bowling. Watch future newsletters for details. Board Members: See you at our Board meeting tonight, February 6 at 7:00pm at Shir Hadash.
JRF National Kallah
The weekend of March 21 - 23, 8th - 12th graders from Reconstructionist congregations across North America will have the opportunity to attend the exciting No'ar Hadash North American Teen Kallah -- to be held this year in Chicago! This amazing weekend will be a great opportunity for you to meet other teens, have fun, take part in experiential Jewish learning, sing and dance, hang out, explore Chicago, and be part of our exciting youth movement.
REGISTER NOW! The cost of the weekend is only $375 for registration forms that are postmarked by March 3. Included in this amount are accommodations at the Embassy Suites Chicago - Downtown/Lakefront, meals (Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast), and all program and entry fees. Click here for registration and more info!
Youth Ski Trip, February 21-22
Hit the slopes with Shir Hadash! All teens who are at least 14 years old and who have completed 8th grade are invited to come on an overnight ski trip to Cascade Mountain near Madison, Wisconsin on Friday, Feb 21 and Saturday, Feb 22. Drop off will be at 5pm on Friday night in Northbrook. On The Saturday, teens will be dropped off at their homes so that parents are able to attend the Shir Hadash Gala on Saturday night. Click here for detailed information on costs and registration or contact Sandi Schleicher, 800‐897‐0533 (voice & fax).
The Rabbi’s Corner
February 7-8, 2014 / 8 Adar I 5774Shabbat TetzavehTorah: Exodus 27:20 - 30:10 / Haftarah: Ezekiel 43:10 - 43:27“This Little Light of Mine”
Dear Friends, I have just returned from an amazing journey of study and discovery to Rome and Israel with a delegation of Chicago area rabbis. We had the opportunity to tour Jewish historical and spiritual sites in Italy and Israel, meet with leaders and government officials, and visit the Vatican. It was especially meaningful to visit with my daughter Elana, now serving as a soldier in Israel’s army. I look forward to telling you all about what I learned on my journey at services on Friday, February 21st.
One of the things that touched me greatly when visiting the Great Synagogue of Rome was the beautiful Ner Tamid – the Eternal Light that hangs near the ark and is always lit. Seeing it made me think of all the synagogues around the world and throughout time that have a similar light shining at all times. It made me think of the Ner Tamid Eternal Light shining back home in our Shir Hadash sanctuary. Knowing that wherever I might be in the world, the light at our special and holy synagogue is on….
To read the rest of The Rabbi’s Corner, click here to visit our website.
Adult Education
NEW! Crash Course in Basic JudaismFive lessons that will change your life! Led by Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow, the class meets on Mondays; February 24, March 31, April 28, May 26, and June 9, 8 to 9:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. Contact the Rabbi for more information, rabbi@shir-hadash.org.
The Book of Esther – An Interfaith Class
Our examination of the Book of Esther continues every Tuesday at 9:30 am through the end of February. Led by Rabbi Eitan and Our Lady of the Brook’s Deacon Peery Duderstadt, “The Book of Esther: Yours, Mine and Ours” offers an in-depth examination of the story of Esther from both Jewish and Catholic perspectives. All classes are at Shir Hadash, and newcomers are welcome. Click here to register.
Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
Join Shir Hadash members and friends for a refreshing and contemporary exploration of the weekly Torah portion. This informal group meets on Thursdays from noon to 1:00 in the Shir Hadash Kitchen/Café. All are welcome.
Sunday Morning Adult Ed
We hope you will join us for Torah and Philosophy at 9:45 with Fred Andes, followed by Hebrew Reading at 10:45 with Steve Lewin. For more information, contact Fred, frederic.andes@btlaw.com.
Community Events
Chicago A Capella Presents “Melodic Migrations”, February 15The Chicago A Capella vocal ensemble presents “Melodic Migrations: Global Jewish Music” on Saturday, February 15. This new program shines a spotlight on emotionally powerful and beautiful Jewish a cappella music from around the world, including South Africa, Canada, Europe and elsewhere. Benjamin Rivera, who has served as Shir Hadash’s High Holidays music director in the past, is a member of this excellent ensemble. The concert will be held at 7:30pm at the Nichols Concert Hall, 1690 Chicago Avenue in Evanston.Click here to visit the event website, , or contact Meryl Abensohn at abenkras@aol.com for more information.
Dr. Amy-Jill Levine at OLB, April 3 & 4
Our Lady of the Brook parish invites Shir Hadash members for a special “scholar in residence” program featuring Dr. Amy-Jill Levine, author of The Misunderstood Jew – The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus. Dr. Levine will speak on Thursday evening, April 3, and Friday morning, April 4, at OLB, 3300 Dundee Road in Northbrook. More details on times will be coming soon.
Dr. Levine is University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies, E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of New Testament Studies, and Professor of Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School and College of Arts and Science. Professor Levine combines historical-critical rigor, literary-critical sensitivity, and a frequent dash of humor with a commitment to eliminating anti-Jewish, sexist and homophobic theologies. Click here to learn more about her work. Her presentations are free of charge and open to all. For more information, contact Deacon Peery Duderstadt, peery@olb.org.
We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here
